Training Log Archive: RHF

Rosthwaite fell, Glaramara, Allen Crags and Esk Pike

Another great day out in the hills. Partially with John and Louise. Got dropped off at Stonethwaite so we could get the ascent kind of in the sun. A steep climb up from the campsite through the woods. Path on rocky steps the whole way up. Then got to the ridgeline which actually was a undulating contoured rocky mass the whole way up. A bit tricky to nav to the summit of Bessyboot/Rosthwaite fell (using both Harvey's and 1:25 OS) but hit it spot on. Would definitely be tricky in race conditions or at night! Then kept wiggling up to Glaramara. Spotted John and Louise just below the top and had lunch with them. They skirted round the rocky summit and we scrambled up it. Pretty wet and greasy so took our time.

Undulating onto Allen Crags, not really much height gain or loss. Rocky in places, I enjoy this kind of mountain area. Hard to comprehend how these landscapes are formed. Would've been great for O. Stopped again and then we headed up Esk Pike. Took us 40mins up and down from Esk Hause with a bit of a recee of the line off. Pretty rocky on top and great views over the Scafell massif and towards the Gables. Back at Esk Hause we debated a plan and whether we wanted to go up Great End. Elected to descend and leave it for another day. This was the right call as the descent was fairly good going but took us longer than we expected. A nice descent down the river valley was quite attractive then along the bottom of Seathwaite. Our lift had gone so we ran the last few hundred metres to the road and just made the bus.

Wish I'd worn my zip offs, worn ankle socks, t shirt and remembered my hat!

North Western fells with Nicole and John
Sale Fell, Ling Fell, Graystones, Broom Fell, Lords Seat, Barf, Whinlatter Fell.
Nicole had wanted to try this route for a while. It was a leg of Steve Birkinshaw's Wainwright round and looked double as a fell run. Took two cars and dropped one at either end. A bit overcast with rain forecast to come in so we got out in the morning.

A very steep start up the first fell, could definitely feel the calves burning and was wondering how we'd all get on. A lovely gradual grass descent to the road got us into the swing of things. Alright up to Ling Fell. Had been concerned about the route from Ling Fell to Graystones, elected to cut left slightly to the parallel fence boundaries. It was a bit wet the whole way but not too bad. Not major bog. Graystones was a fairly easy descent and we'd all settled into it by this point. Graystones summit is one of those silly Wainwrights where the top isn't his summit, so I went to all of them. Easy going to Broom Fell and Lords Seat. A great descent down to Barf, my kind of slope angle and enough to concentrate on but easy to run.

A bit wet heading back to Whinlatter forest. A bit of hesitant map heading through the woods, a fairly descent downhill track then back to the open area. A great trod from here all the way to the actual summit and then onto the Wainwright top. Thus giving us 7 fells in 3 hours, and about 10 minutes faster than Steve was on his round (he was 6 days into his record though!) Returned to the woods and descended most of the way down a twisty mountain bike track. A great fell run and morning out. Had tired legs before I started so was happy to get round.

Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat
Down to the Lake then along to the road up to Ashness Bridge. A quick look at the Bob Graham memorial en route. Had thought we would be doing a more direct route up to Walla Crag (7km, whereas I thought it would be 3/4km) Diagonal path back to Walla Crag. Lovely stop on the top and had some cookie dough slice. Then Nicole and I headed up to Bleaberry Fell and onto High Street. A pretty decent path most of the way and it wasn't as boggy as I feared. Starting to get concerned about the time so no choice but to descend (leaving Ambroth fell and High Tove for another day). The descent seemed to take a while and I was definitely getting worried about the light disappearing! Made it down to the road okay and just before a bus back to town. Shouldn't have taken out the head torch that was in the bag this morning!

Exploring the Far Western small ones with John
Annual Autumnal trip to the Lakes with John, this time joined by our partners! Just the two of us today out for a fell run picking up a load of small Western Wainwrights (Mellbreak, Starling Dodd, Great Borne, Hen Comb, Gavel Fell, Blake Fell, Burnback Fell). Had been worried about feeling tired and fatigued and not being able to do any fell running (certainly have felt tired on smaller road runs from home!) Pleasantly pleased with how much I have been able to do, two big days in the Munros last weekend and some other stuff in between. Legs were a bit sore after the climb up the Cobbler on Friday.

A road run then a steep climb up Mellbreak which was pretty loose then down and back up to Starling Dodd. It was pretty rough underfoot, quite tussocky, boggy in places, rocky in others. I should've filled up with water here and I regretted that by Hen Comb when I was really flagging and had run out (couldn't get my food down). Stopped between Hen Comb and Gavel Fell to refuel and rehydrate and that definitely helped. Kept on focusing on the next summit and trying not to think too far ahead. Fairly good going after Gavel Fell but John and I were both flagging a big. A steep descent off Burnback Fell and we had gone slightly too far round, so had to run along a track back. John tripped... And then a long gradual descent through the woods. This was pretty fun to run down and would've been amazing if feeling good! A quality day exploring some small hills and down to 52 Wainwrights to go now.

Ben Arthur/ The Cobbler with Nicole

En route South to the Lakes and too nice a day not to get out and do something. Nicole was even more keen than I was. A bit of late night planning of a suitable route (right length and difficulty) and near to our drive home gave us the Cobbler.

A long zig zag ascent through the woods to start with, felt a bit frantic and rushed after the drive down and knowing we were on a bit of a schedule. It was quite busy at this point, we were overtaking and getting overtaken. We then crossed the river and headed up the SE ridge. It was grassy to start with then provided great views of the summit (probably one of the most amazing peaks). It then became rockier and steeper and it was a fun ascent. Hard to judge the conditions, cold wind but okay when you were moving. Only saw two people the whole way up this ridge. Then popped out for the summit and lots of people were sheltering this side. I thought I'd have a look at the true summit and see how hard it was. Threading the needle was easy and the other side looked doable enough so I kept going. Had watched a video online so scrambled up to the true summit and touched the top. Got a bit nervous and shakey so descended steadily and back to the crowds. Nice to have touched the top.

Then we had some lunch in a sheltered spot and joined the crowds of people in descent. Definitely was a popular mountain and a popular route up and down. The descent to the path was fairly steep but after that gradual the whole way down and we were moving well. Really cool mountain to explore and pleased with our horseshoe route. Then continued the drive down to the Lakes. Didn't take too long and nice to break up the drive.

Trying to loosen up the legs

(not) Ganavan Sands parkrun with Nicole
A bit of parkrun tourism without there being any parkruns on :( and to be fair, we may have chosen not to do it anyway with Saturdays weather! Drive out to Ganavan and it was a bit windy and cool. A brutal little slope to start with and then the course undulates out and back (with a bonus out and back). A really good tarmac surface the whole way! Calves a bit painful on the steep downhills. Breathing felt a bit tight. Will submit it as my first (not) parkrun.

Isle of Kerrera lap
Walk around Kerrera, south to Gylen castle, explore of the coast, up the rugged west side to the farm shop for an ice cream. Then continued towards the top of the island and back down the shore on the east side, a bit tough going in places when not on the main loop! Took us far longer than expected, couldn't find a way through and then had to run for the ferry! Literally just made it.

Bein Sgulaird traverse, back through Glen Creran (6hrs moving time apparently)

Another incredible day in the hills. Been waiting a long time for days like these (lockdown and before that enjoying the Great British weather). Two of the best mountain days of my life. A bit cooler start then a long gradual ascent up a grassy ridge line. Nice views looking back down the ridge towards Mull. There were midges and flies about but fortunately not too bad and didn't get bitten! Legs a little sore from yesterday, in particular my calves. Appreciating the poles. Towards the first top, we lost the trod and headed through the rocks. The ridge line had 3 summits ending with the Munro, each was pretty rocky and had a sharp descent. A long drag up to the Munro, really nice going between the rocks. Not that difficult but just interesting.

Summited Bien Sgulaird and had a chat with a friendly guy we'd seen a few times. He had about 20 Munro's to go and it had taken him 20+ years! Then got the summit to ourselves for half an hour. Amazing views again, could see up towards Glen Coe and Ben Nevis and back to where we were yesterday. Slightly worse weather than yesterday but only marginally (a bit more hazy and cloudy in the distance). Chilled on the summit and had some lunch, just taking it all in.

Nicole had been more confident than yesterday on the first three rocky descents but lost her confidence on the steep descent down the ridge line. It was pretty tough going and there wasn't much of a path (no longer on the main Munro route). We then tried to cut into the corrie where it looked easier going and grassier but that was still challenging to get there (patches of rock and very steep!) The descent down to the river and the path out seemed to take ages! Great views up the valley towards the back of Glen Coe though. Once onto the hill track, the going was much easier and we were able to get our average speed up! Took quite a long time to descend to the glen bottom and then get along it. Tried not to check the map too much as I was flagging a bit!

Another really excellent day out. Stunning views and felt like we had the hills to ourselves. Basically only saw people the first half of the walk. Back of my right knee/calf hurt a bit by the end. New Roclites a bit tight around the forefoot and arch, maybe okay for proper hill days but didn't feel so good on Kerrera. Maybe my feet are wider than I thought?

Two excellent days walking in the Highlands. 3 more Munro's to the tally (16 done, many to go!) and got off unlucky 13 which I've been on for 6 years since my last mountain marathon! I retired then due to hip pain and didn't do the second day... Not a fun experience running off the summit (control on the top), it was pretty scary and I didn't enjoy it.

Ben Cruachuan and Stob Diamh horseshoe

A great and deservedly popular horseshoe above the reservoir. Last time I was near here was in 2012 for my first mountain marathon. The start was on the impressive dam and headed up the neighbouring Corbett for our first control. Good to be back, years later.

Fortunately got the last decent parking space on the busy road. A twisty climb up through the woods to start with. Path a lot smaller than I expected then up to the dam. Really impressive arches and a flight of steps up then along a road into the corrie. Ben Cruachuan is a big hydroelectric power station "hollow mountain" with a large store of water inside. Steep up to the bealach and then a rocky and loose ascent to the summit. We were taking our time and enjoying the great views. Quite a lot of ascent when you get to 1150m from basically sea level.

Incredible views: could see down to Arran, the Paps of Jura, Mull, Skye, Ben Nevis and panaromic mountains.

From here some more rocky descent and a bit of scrambling. Ibhad been a bit worried from description but it was fine. Helping Nicole a bit when she wasn't feeling confident descending. Quite slow going over the next Munro top and onwards to Stob Diamh. Quite a lot of people out on the loop. A grassier descent from Stob Diamh down to the pass and then a grassy sometimes wet descent down to the reservoir. Had thought there'd be another track this side, but there wasn't and it was slow going. Then back down through the woods. Nicole was moving pretty slowly and I was feeling a bit tired. Probably could've done with more food (2 pittas, hula hoops and some cereal bars). Both days completely underestimated the time the route would taken (mainly due to the rougher than expected terrain and Nicole's descending speed): 3kph not adjusting for climb.

A long day out and a proper quality mountain day.

West Highland Way run
Out and back to the Falls of Fannoch. Decided it was too nice a day not to get out, so stopped for a run. To start with couldn't find anywhere good to park with decent access to the route, had hoped to be able to run to Loch Lomond. Quite a nice trail in places, some bits really runnable and single track then a long downhill on forest road, we ignored the diversion and found the bridge has completely disappeared! Unfortunately not so great views from the falls (think you need to be at the tourist car park the other side!) A bit harder coming back up as it was net uphill. Walked the one steepest roughest climb. Potentially should've worn trail shoes.

Deerleap towards Matley Heath with Nicole
As soon as I started running my legs felt knackered and couldn't get going. Lovely warm evening and the ground was very dry. One of the last runs like that of the year! Maybe even the last... A bit longer than I intended but I hadn't measured the route.

Avenue, Chilworth, Baddesley, Luzborough, Lee Lane, home
Sunset spin, really nice sunset colours. Hadn't fully decided on a ride or a run but thought I'd go for a new route. No cycle lane on the Avenue anymore :( roads in general a bit too busy for my liking. Glad I had my lights. Not ridden down Lee Lane at dusk for quite a while. Back was hurting most of the ride and after.

Greenways and Lordswood loop

New Forest cycle ride solo, out via Windsor then a new road the other side of the motorway then back via Woodlands and Deerleap
Trying a couple new roads. Back pretty bad after. Definitely need to get the bike serviced (left pedal area clicking and squeaking when changing up!)

Through the woods, along the waterfront from Eling
Post some sneaky errands in town and finally getting rid of the Christmas tree...

Bordon orienteering + WU/WD Blue 7th/103 +3:31 on Nick
First time properly orienteering in the forest for a while. Fairly far up the results given I haven't been feeling fit and I felt pretty knackered throughout. Lost time to 5 and 12 and a few controls near the end.

North of the Forest and beyond with Nick
Parked at Nicks in Nomansland then up the hill and out the top of the Forest to Godshill and Fordingbridge. Then fully into the unknown the other side, out to Damerham, towards Cranborne, cutting down to Alderholt then Ibsley and back over to Ocknell Plain and back. Doing fairly well to remember the route from map memory. Would like to head out this way again and take in the western edge of the Forest. Moving pretty well, Nick had a fancy new road bike and working hard at times. Descending quite nicely. Flagging from Janesmoor pond a bit and Nick was pushing for home.

Sports centre trails pre Open meet spectate
Exploring some of the trails around the Sports Centre.

New Forest from Ipley car park
Hadn't really got a plan of where to run, was going to go to Lordswood but Nicole suggested that the Forest was basically as near and nicer so headed out for an explore. On the drive out couldn't decide where to go but had this area in my head after seeing that there will be the drift here on Sunday and haven't often come here. Only a bit further than deerleap. Pretty good route along the edge of the forest. All pretty runnable untill a bit of marsh and undergrowth the other side of the river. Felt pretty good the first bit, moving quite well. A bit slower second half.

Common lap with Nicole
Shoes felt a bit too tight. Running was okay enough but legs felt tight and that I wanted to run a little slower.